Abstract: Atrial fibrillation is a common clinical arrhythmia that poses significant health risks to patients, yet its pathogenesis remains unclear. Numerous studies indicate that pro-inflammatory macrophages are closely-associated with the onset and progression of various cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and congestive heart failure. Recent research reveals that pro-inflammatory macrophages play a crucial role in the onset and progression of atrial fibrillation through recruitment. Therefore, targeting the recruitment of macrophages could emerge as a novel treatment approach for atrial fibrillation. This paper systematicallyreviews the role of macrophages in atrial fibrillation and its mechanism in inducing atrial fibrillation, so as to provide new insights into the management of atrial fibrillation.